PHOENIX — The mayor of Glendale is saying that his city is committed to accountability following a lawsuit stemming from a July 2017 police encounter in which a man was shocked with a stun gun 11 times.
Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers released a statement that said he has heard the public's feedback regarding the incident and that there have already been multiple reviews into the situation.
Weiers said an "official, critical, comprehensive and independent review" occurred when the incident first happened that resulted in some disciplinary actions for one of the officers involved.
"The review, which occurred when the incident first happened and long before it became public, resulted in disciplinary actions for one officer regarding certain tactics of this complicated event," Weiers said in the statement released Tuesday.
It is not clear what those disciplinary actions were.
Additionally, in Weiers' statement, he said that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office also did an official review that didn't result in any further action.
"They notified the City that after their extensive examination, they were declining to pursue criminal prosecution against any of the officers involved," Weiers said.
A spokesperson from MCAO said prosecutors looked at the video and "due to the totality of the events determined there was no likelihood of conviction."
The 2017 incident was captured on an officer-worn body camera. In the video, two Glendale police officers approach Johnny Wheatcroft's car in a Motel 6 parking lot. His wife and his two children were also in the car.
The video shows Wheatcroft stunned 11 times including hits to his groin.
The police department has denied the allegation that Officer Matt Schneider shot Wheatcroft in the testicles with the stun gun, saying instead that the officer zapped Wheatcroft in the thigh.
Wheatcroft's lawsuit and the body camera footage was revealed to the public last week.
Read the mayor's full statement below.
